에게
To, For
에게 is a particle that means 'to' or 'for'. It attaches to a noun (a person or animal) to show who is receiving an action.
How It Works
에게 is a crucial particle for indicating the direction of an action toward a person or animal. It marks the indirect object in a sentence.
Usage:
It is attached directly to the end of a noun representing a person or animal, regardless of whether the noun ends in a vowel or a consonant.
- Structure: [Person/Animal Noun] + 에게
Key Distinctions:
1. 에게 vs. 에: This is a very important distinction.
- Use 에게 for people and animals (animate beings).
- Use 에 for places, inanimate objects, and plants.
- Correct: 친구에게 전화해요. (I call my friend.)
- Incorrect: 학교에게 가요. (Use 학교에 가요.)
2. 에게 vs. 한테:
- 에게 is more common in writing and formal speech.
- 한테 is more common in casual, spoken Korean. They are often interchangeable in conversation.
3. Honorific Form: 께
- When the recipient is someone you need to show a high level of respect to (e.g., a grandparent, teacher, or boss), you should use the honorific particle 께 instead of 에게.
- Example: 할머니께 선물을 드려요. (I give a gift to my grandmother.)
Examples (4)
- 저는 친구에게 편지를 써요.
I write a letter to my friend.
Word by Word: I friend-to letter write.
- 동생에게 책을 읽어 줘요.
I read a book to my younger sibling.
Word by Word: Younger sibling-to book read give.
- 고양이에게 밥을 주세요.
Please give food to the cat.
Word by Word: Cat-to food please give.
- 선생님에게 질문이 있어요.
I have a question for the teacher.
Word by Word: Teacher-to question exists.
Common Mistakes
Using 에게 for places or inanimate objects.
Not Quite저는 학교에게 가요.Better저는 학교에 가요.에게 is only used for people and animals. For places, inanimate objects, or concepts, you must use the particle 에.
Confusing the recipient (에게) with the direct object (을/를).
Not Quite저는 친구를 전화해요.Better저는 친구에게 전화해요.The action of 'calling' is directed to the friend. The friend is the recipient of the call, not the direct object of the verb. Therefore, you should use 에게, not the object particle 을/를.
Learn This First
To understand 에게, you first need to know the location marker 에.
Related Patterns
- 한테To, For
한테 is the colloquial or spoken equivalent of 에게. They both mean 'to' a person/animal, but 한테 is more common in casual conversation.
- 께To (Honorific)
께 is the honorific version of 에게. You use 께 when the recipient is someone you must show respect to, like a teacher or grandparent.
- -에게서From (A Person)
에게서 means 'from' a person or animal. It is the opposite of 에게, indicating the source of an action rather than the recipient.
- 을/를Object Marker
을/를 is the object particle, marking the thing that an action is directly performed on. 에게 marks the indirect object (the recipient), helping to clarify roles in a sentence like 'I give a [gift을] [to a friend에게]'.
- 한테 / 에게 / 께Recipient Particles
A comparison showing when to use 에게 vs 한테 vs 께 by formality.
Learn Next
Patterns that build on this one.